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Tech NewsSploid
Would You?
At CES on Wednesday, Toyota revealed Concept-i, an AI-assisted concept vehicle that uses machine learning to “build a relationship that is meaningful and human.” Among other things, this apparently means the ability to wink demurely at its driver. This poses the question: Would you? Well? Would you do it?
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
House GOP Passes New Rules to Punish Livestreaming Protests from Congress
Voting largely along party lines, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved new fines on Tuesday against lawmakers who use electronic devices to take pictures or broadcast from the chamber, prompting a barrage of flashes as Democrats snapped photos in defiance of the rules. Majority Leader Paul Ryan proposed the fines in response to one of … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
FBI Aliases of Russian Hacking Groups, Ranked
In response to Russian “cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election,” the White House released a declassified joint analysis by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security on Thursday of the campaign they have named “Grizzly Steppe.” https://gizmodo.com/obama-strikes-back-at-election-hacks-by-politely-asking-1790605345 In the report, the agencies summarize the spear-phishing operation that allowed the Russian intelligence organizations known as … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Obama Fires Back at Election Hacks by Politely Asking Russian Guys to Leave
Some say revenge is a dish best served cold. When it comes to alleged electoral interference by Russia, the White House apparently thinks it’s also best served largely symbolically. On Thursday, President Obama announced several emblematic measures against Russia for “cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election,” including expelling 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Donald Trump: ‘Computers Have Complicated Lives Very Greatly’
Many people would say that computers have been a boon to both science and society, facilitating calculations and communications unfathomable in the pre-digital age. President-elect Donald Trump, however, is not one of those people. https://gizmodo.com/has-donald-trump-ever-used-a-computer-1762376695 Asked about possible sanctions against Russia for electoral interference on Wednesday, Trump suggested we all “get on with our lives” … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Autonomous Brakes May Have Stopped Berlin Truck Attacker from Killing More
Earlier this month, 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured when an attacker drove a stolen truck through a crowded Christmas market in Berlin. If it hadn’t been for an automatic brake system mandated by European Union rules, however, last week’s tragedy could have been even worse. https://jezebel.com/nine-dead-and-50-wounded-after-truck-crashes-into-berli-1790288126 According German media, investigators say … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
io9
George R.R. Martin Just Wants This Sad, Death-Filled Year to End
Like many of us, George R.R. Martin is ready for 2016 to be over. In a blog post Tuesday evening, the A Song of Ice and Fire creator mourned the dual loss of actor Carrie Fisher and writer Richard Adams, praising the latter’s dystopian children’s tale Watership Down as “one of the three great fantasy … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Watch Tesla’s Autopilot Brake for a Crash Before It Even Happens
Since Tesla released Version 8.0 of its Autopilot system this summer, CEO Elon Musk has touted its lifesaving potential. Today, dashcam footage from the Netherlands showed just how powerful the new safety feature can be. In the video, the Tesla can be heard warning of a potential collision due an (unseen) braking vehicle one car … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Trump Tower Evacuated Over ‘Suspicious’ Bag of Toys
The holiday season might almost be over, but at Trump Organization headquarters, the War on Christmas rages on. Tuesday evening, police cleared the lobby of Trump Tower in New York over reports of a “suspicious package.” After investigation, authorities confirmed to the Associated Press the object in question was a backpack containing children’s toys. Bystander … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech NewsFacebook
Avril Lavigne: Mark Zuckerberg’s Nickelback Joke Promotes ‘Bullying’
He was a Zuckerberg. She said, see you, Fuckerberg. On Thursday, Avril Lavigne condemned the Facebook CEO for using Nickelback as a punchline in the wack promotional video for his robo-butler Jarvis, calling the jab at her husband Chad Kroeger’s band “in poor taste.” https://gizmodo.com/mark-zuckerberg-played-the-what-would-you-do-if-you-wer-1790332820 “You have a voice like yours, you may want to … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech NewsSamsung
Holiday Flight Canceled After Jabroni Names Wi-Fi Network ‘Galaxy Note 7’
This week, one Virgin America flight was delayed and another was reportedly canceled after crew members discovered a wi-fi hotspot named “Samsung Galaxy Note 7” mid-flight. Ultimately, however, no Note 7 was found on the plane, as the network belonged to another device named to resemble the banned smartphone. According to one passenger, the trouble … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Ikea to Pay Parents of Kids Crushed by Falling Dressers $50 Million
On Wednesday, lawyers representing the families of three toddlers killed by recalled Ikea dressers said the company has agreed to settle their wrongful death lawsuits, paying the parents a collective $50 million. In addition, Ikea will donate $250,000 to various children’s organizations and increase funding for a campaign highlighting the dangers of tipping furniture, The … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Uber Pulls Self-Driving Cabs From Streets After Losing DMV Slap Fight
Last week, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles told Uber it “must cease” operating its fleet of semi-autonomous cars in San Francisco, threatening unspecified consequences if it failed to do so. Uber continued the pilot program in defiance of the warning, but today the state finally made good on its threat. https://gizmodo.com/california-to-uber-stop-your-self-driving-cabs-right-n-1790122142 Wednesday evening, the DMV … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Man Turns to Internet After Finding Weird ‘Green Stuff’ on Taco
Life is full of mysteries. Some of them are simple, like, “If there’s a god, why is there evil in the world?” Others are far more illusive and can only be answered by the collective wisdom of the world wide web. On Monday, a poster on Reddit’s /r/taco_bell subpage inadvertently posed a question of the … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Obama Blocks Trump With Permanent Ban on Drilling in Arctic Waters
As one of the final acts of his environmentally-minded farewell tour, President Obama indefinitely barred new offshore drilling in vast swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, taking advantage of a 63-year-old law to prevent Donald Trump from overturning the ban once in office. In a joint statement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (who … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Families of Orlando Victims Sue Google, Facebook and Twitter for Giving ISIS ‘Material Support’
Six months after a gunman walked into Orlando’s Pulse nightclub and opened fire, families representing three of his victims have sued the world’s biggest social media sites, accusing them of providing ISIS with “material support.” According to the lawsuit, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube (which is owned by Google) all “provided the terrorist group ISIS with … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech NewsApple
Tim Cook on Why He Went to That Awkward Trump Meeting
Under normal circumstances, business leaders meeting with America’s future President would just be business as usual. When those leaders represent the liberal stronghold of Silicon Valley and that future President is Donald Trump, however, it’s anything but. https://gizmodo.com/tech-god-arrives-to-kneel-at-trump-s-throne-updating-1790091201 So after Tim Cook and other top tech executives met with the President-elect last week, the Apple … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
io9Television
New Twin Peaks Teaser Is Just David Lynch Eating a Donut and That’s Okay
On Sunday, Showtime released a new teaser trailer for the revival of ‘90s art kid favorite Twin Peaks. In it, creator David Lynch can be seen eating a (glazed?) donut as FBI administrator Gordon Cole and, well, that’s about it. That’s the whole thing. Those hoping for a bigger peak at the upcoming season might … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
Tech News
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Perhaps Thine ‘Football’ Killed the Flying Car
Having long since abandoned his mission of making science fun in favor of sucking the same out of everything else, perpetual opinion machine Neil deGrasse Tyson delivered another thermally radiant take this weekend, suggesting, mayhap, t’was Sports Ball killed the skycar. “Sometimes I wonder if we’d have flying cars by now had civilization spent a … Continued
By Hudson Hongo -
EartherClimate Change
‘Governor Moonbeam’ Vows to Launch ‘Own Damn Satellite’ If Donald Trump Ignores Climate Change
With his latest cabinet picks, Donald Trump has strongly signaled that his administration will do little to combat climate change, which he once called a hoax invented by the Chinese. If the President-elect tries to stop climate research, however, California’s Governor has promised to fight him at every turn. In a barnburner speech on Wednesday, Governor Jerry … Continued
By Hudson Hongo